Japan attaches importance to and intend to promote cooperation with theMekong sub-region, including Vietnam , and identifies environment asone of the most important fields for cooperation.
Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Director General of the PublicDiplomacy Department under the Japanese Ministry of Foreign AffairsHidenobu Sobashima stated this in an interview granted to reporters onthe sidelines of the 43 rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and relatedmeetings that took place in the capital city of Hanoi on July 21.
“We intend to continue the cooperation with the Mekong sub-region and implement new projects,” said Sobashima.
He said the two sides last year held a Mekong-Japan summit at whichJapan put forwards initiatives and specific cooperative projects withthe countries in the sub-region.
“We committed lastNovember 500 billion yen (roughly 5.5 billion USD) for cooperation inthree years,” stressed the Japanese official who is also thespokesperson for Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okadaduring the latter’s trip to Hanoi this time for attending the meetingsand for a visit to Vietnam.
The two sides haveconducted several projects in the sub-region and agreed to promotethe Green Mekong initiative in order to develop the region in asustainable way, said the official while affirming Japan wouldhonour its commitments.
He reckoned that theimplementation of the two sides’ cooperative projects would narrow thedevelopment gap in the region.
On the occasion, theJapanese diplomat spoke highly of the chairmanship of Vietnam atthese meetings and Vietnam-Japan ties.
“ Japan andVietnam agreed to promote a strategic partnership. I think yourecognise the economic, trade and investment relationship between thetwo countries is very important at the moment,” said Sobashima.
“This year, Vietnam is the chair of ASEAN. We appreciate very much Vietnam ’s initiatives,” he added.
He said that Okada’s bilateral trip to Vietnam aims to further strengthen the relationship with the country.
“We look forward to further enhancing the relationship with Vietnambecause the importance of Vietnam in ASEAN and in the Mekongsub-region,” he said./.
Deputy Press Secretary and Deputy Director General of the PublicDiplomacy Department under the Japanese Ministry of Foreign AffairsHidenobu Sobashima stated this in an interview granted to reporters onthe sidelines of the 43 rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and relatedmeetings that took place in the capital city of Hanoi on July 21.
“We intend to continue the cooperation with the Mekong sub-region and implement new projects,” said Sobashima.
He said the two sides last year held a Mekong-Japan summit at whichJapan put forwards initiatives and specific cooperative projects withthe countries in the sub-region.
“We committed lastNovember 500 billion yen (roughly 5.5 billion USD) for cooperation inthree years,” stressed the Japanese official who is also thespokesperson for Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Katsuya Okadaduring the latter’s trip to Hanoi this time for attending the meetingsand for a visit to Vietnam.
The two sides haveconducted several projects in the sub-region and agreed to promotethe Green Mekong initiative in order to develop the region in asustainable way, said the official while affirming Japan wouldhonour its commitments.
He reckoned that theimplementation of the two sides’ cooperative projects would narrow thedevelopment gap in the region.
On the occasion, theJapanese diplomat spoke highly of the chairmanship of Vietnam atthese meetings and Vietnam-Japan ties.
“ Japan andVietnam agreed to promote a strategic partnership. I think yourecognise the economic, trade and investment relationship between thetwo countries is very important at the moment,” said Sobashima.
“This year, Vietnam is the chair of ASEAN. We appreciate very much Vietnam ’s initiatives,” he added.
He said that Okada’s bilateral trip to Vietnam aims to further strengthen the relationship with the country.
“We look forward to further enhancing the relationship with Vietnambecause the importance of Vietnam in ASEAN and in the Mekongsub-region,” he said./.
